Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro accused President Donald Trump of repeatedly threatening Americans’ fundamental freedoms on Monday, pledging to protect residents’ rights to marry whom they love, make decisions about their own bodies and participate in elections. Shapiro’s statement comes one day before the November 3 midterm elections, when voters will determine the balance of power in Congress and decide several major statewide contests.
Shapiro wrote:
“Donald Trump consistently threatens the very freedoms that make us who we are as Americans:
The right to marry who you love, make decisions about your own body, and participate in our democracy — whether in person or by mail.
My promise to you is that I will always protect your fundamental freedoms here in Pennsylvania — no matter who or what stands in the way.”
The governor’s reference to marriage is tied to the broader debate over marriage equality and legal protections for same-sex couples. His message presents the ability to marry a chosen partner as a fundamental freedom and suggests that he views threats to those protections as a matter of state leadership and civil rights.
Shapiro’s reference to decisions about one’s own body points to reproductive rights, particularly abortion access. Democrats have repeatedly framed abortion rights as a central issue in elections following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Shapiro has publicly supported reproductive freedom and opposed restrictions that would limit access to abortion in Pennsylvania.
The governor’s third point concerns voting rights and election participation. By explicitly mentioning both in-person and mail voting, Shapiro is defending multiple ways eligible Pennsylvanians can cast ballots. His message comes amid national disputes over mail ballots, election administration and the federal government’s role in overseeing state elections.
Shapiro’s promise to protect these freedoms “no matter who or what stands in the way” is a pledge to continue using his position as governor to defend rights he considers fundamental. The statement does not identify a new executive action or specific pending legislation, but it sets out the principles he says will guide his administration.
Shapiro has previously emphasized that Pennsylvania has a responsibility to preserve democratic participation and protect residents’ rights. In his January 2025 statement following Trump’s inauguration, he said he would continue defending fundamental freedoms and stand up to efforts to erode them, while also expressing readiness to work with the administration on areas of shared priorities.
The governor’s public record includes a strong emphasis on protecting reproductive rights and defending access to voting. His administration’s approach has been to frame these matters as core state responsibilities, particularly in a politically divided environment where national policy and state-level protections can differ.
The voting portion of Shapiro’s statement is particularly relevant to Pennsylvania, a closely contested state where mail voting has been a recurring political and legal issue. The state’s election procedures and the rights of eligible voters have drawn heightened attention during recent presidential and midterm elections.
Shapiro’s message also underscores the contrast he draws between his administration and Trump’s political agenda. The governor is presenting the election as a moment when voters can influence the future direction of policy on personal liberty, civil rights and democratic participation.
The midterm elections will not determine the presidency, but they will affect congressional oversight and the ability of the administration’s political allies to advance legislation. Shapiro’s remarks reflect the broader Democratic argument that voting in state and federal races can help protect rights and constrain policies they oppose.
His pledge is also directed at Pennsylvanians regardless of political affiliation. The governor’s language describes marriage, bodily autonomy and voting as freedoms that define Americans, rather than as privileges limited to a particular party’s supporters.
Shapiro’s November 2 post is a political statement and promise of continued advocacy. It does not itself establish that a new restriction on any of the named freedoms has taken effect in Pennsylvania. The governor’s accusation about Trump is his characterization of the president’s record and policy positions.
With Election Day set for November 3, Shapiro is urging voters to view fundamental freedoms as a central issue in the election and reaffirming his commitment to defend them in Pennsylvania.